Mhd generator with laser augmentation

ABSTRACT

An electric generator comprising a compressed and excited gas supply flowing at high speed in an optical resonating cavity to form a laser, the gas then passing between two electrodes. A magnetic field is applied between these two electrodes, and the laser beam is focused in the interelectrode space to increase the electronic density of the gas. A high potential is thus produced between the electrodes.

United States Patent 1 1111 3,748,505 Lavarini 1 1 July 24, 1973 [54]MHD GENERATOR WITH LASER 3,621,461 11/1971 Cason ct al. 331 945 0AUGMENTATION 3,702,973 1 H1972 Daugherty et al. 3l0/ll X [75] Inventor:Bernard Lavarini, Paris, France [73] Assignee: Compagnle GeneraleDElectriclte, Primary m -P- Dugga" 7 V Paris France Attorney-RwhardSughrue, Donald E. Zmn et ul.

22 Filed: Sept. 18, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 289,919 [57] ABSTRACT ForeignApplication Priority Data An electric generator comprising a compressedand ex- Sept. 17, 1971 France 7133616 cited gas supply flowing at highspeed in an optical res onating cavity to form a laser, the gas thenpassing be- [52] US. Cl. 310/11, 331/945 G tween two electrodes. Amagnetic field is applied b [51] Int. Cl. H02k 45/00 tween these twoelectrodes, and the laser b i f Field /945 G cused in the interelectrodespace to increase the electronic density of the gas. A high potential isthus pro- [56] References Cited duced between the electrodes.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,480,806 11/1969 Berberich 310/11 1 Claim, 1Drawing Figure MRI) GENERATOR WITH LASER AUGMENTATION BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention concernsgenerators capable of supplying electric power, and more particularlythose capable of supplying very high power.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known that a difference inpotentials at the terminals of two electrodes is obtained when a plasmain movement subjected to a magnetic field passes between the electrodes.

It is also known that it is possible to obtain a plasma having a greatelectronic density by focusing a high energy laser beam in a mediumwhich is, for example, gaseous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aim of the present invention is to producean electric generator applying the physical phenomena described above,having a compact form and capable of supplying, without greatdifficulty, very high electric power.

The present invention has for its object an electric generatorcharacterized in that it comprises:

A source of compressed and energized gas;

A duct arranged at the output of that said source for enabling a highspeed gaseous flow to be obtained by expansion of the compressed andenergized gas;

An optical resonating cavity arranged at the output of the duct so thatthe gaseous flow moves through the cavity, to obtain a laser beam;

At least two electrodes defining an inter-electrode space, arranged withrespect to the gaseous flow after its passing through the cavity, sothat said gas passes through the inter-electrode space;

Means for applying a magnetic field in the interelectrode space, and,

Means for focusing, in the inter-electrode space, the laser beam whichhas originated in the optical cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other characteristics and advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent from the followingdescription, given with reference to the accompanying drawing by way ofillustration but having no limiting character, in which the singleFIGURE shows an operating diagram of the electrical generator accordingto the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The generator shown in theFIGURE comprises a source of compressed and energized gas 1, consisting,for example, of a combustion chamber 2 comprising two gas supply pipes 3and 4 which may be connected respectively, for example, to very highpressure cylinders (not shown in the FIGURE), containing, for example,nitrogen mixed with carbon monoxide and oxygen. An ignition device 5 isconnected with the chamber 2 to set off the reaction between the threegases which are brought into that chamber 2 to give rise to a highpressure gas mixture consisting of a mixture of energized particles.That mixture of energized gas con tained in the chamber 2 is expanded bymeans ofa duct 7 connected to the output of the chamber 2 to produce aflow of energized gas moving at very high speed in an expansion chamber6 and to be subsequently evacuated into the atmosphere by the output 9of the expansion chamber 6.

The wall of the chamber 6 may act as a support for two mirrors l0 and 11of an optical resonating cavity of the PEROT-FABRY type, one of which,for example the mirror 11, as shown in the FIGURE, may besemitransparent. That cavity is arranged at the output 12 of the duct 7so that the energized gas which is ejected passes through the resonatingcavity limited by the two mirrors 10 and 11 thus forming a laserproducing a laser beam 13 which may emerge from the cavity through thesemi-transparent mirror 11. The wall of the chamber 6 may also act as asupport for two electrodes 14 and 15, defining an inter-electrode space16. These electrodes are arranged so that the gas flow, after havingpassed through the resonating cavity, sweeps through the inter-electrodespace 16.

The electric generator comprises, moreover, means for focusing the laserbeam emerging from the cavity, in the inter-electrode space 16, thesemeans possibly consisting, as shown in the FIGURE, of a reflectingmirror 17, a converging lens 18 and a transparent window 19 formed inthe wall of the expansion chamber 6.

Possibly, as shown in the FIGURE, the electric generator may comprisesupply means 20 and 21 through which additional gases such as CO N 0 andhelium may be supplied to obtain a laser effect in the cavity withmaximum efficiency.

The generator also comprises means for obtaining a magnetic field whosedirections are perpendicular to the direction of propagation of thegaseous flow 8 and parallel to the plane of the electrodes 14 and 15.These means for obtaining that magnetic field are diagrammaticallyillustrated in the FIGURE by a magnetic coil 22 arranged in the vicinityof the electrodes 14 and 15.

The FIGURE shows the electrode 14 connected to ground, and the otherelectrode 15, connected to ground through a circuit 23 which enables theuse of the electric current which is set up at the terminals of thesetwo electrodes when the electric generator is operating.

The operation of that generator is as follows:

The combustion chamber 2 is filled with the gases necessary forproducing a reaction and forming a mixture of energized gas at highpressure; that reaction is obtained by means of the ignition device 5.The energized gas at high pressure obtained in the chamber 2 is ejectedat very high speed into the chamber 6 by means of the duct 7; when thatenergized gas passed in the cavity limited by the two mirrors l0 and l1, it produces a laser beam which may emerge from the cavity through themirror 11 and then subsequently be focused in the inter-electrode spaceI6. The beam fo cused in the inter-electrode space 16 makes it possibleto obtain, with the gas which has passed through the chamber 6, a plasmahaving a very high electronic density which, subjected to the magneticfield, makes it possible to obtain, at the terminals of the electrodes14 and 15, a very high potential difference. Then the gas is ejectedfrom the chamber 6 through the output 9 into the atmosphere. Theelectric power available at the terminals of these two electrodes willbe a function of the ejection speed of the gases in the chamber 6, ofthe value of the magnetic field applied to the plasma set up by the beam13, of the electronic density of that plasma, as well as of theinter-electrode distance.

It must be understood that the invention is in no way limited to theembodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only by wayof example. More particularly, without going beyond the scope of theinvention, certain arrangements may be changed or certains means may bereplaced by equivalent means.

I claim:

1. Electric generator characterized in that it comprises:

a. a source of compressed and energized gas;

b. a duct means arranged at the output of said source for producing ahigh speed gaseous flow to be obtained by expansion of said compressedand ener gized gas;

c. an optical resonating cavity means arranged at the output of saidduct means such that the gaseous flow passing through said cavityproduces a laser beam;

d. at least two electrode means defining an interelectrode space for thegaseous flow after passing through said cavity, wherein said gas passesthrough said inter-electrode space;

e. means for applying a magnetic field to the inter electrode space; and

f. means for focusing, in the inter-electrode space, said laser beamproduced in said optical cavity, whereby a high potential is obtainedbetween said electrodes due to the increased electronic density in saidgas caused by the focusing of the laser beam, and the application of themagnetic field.

1. Electric generator characterized in that it comprises: a. a source ofcompressed and energized gas; b. a duct means arranged at the output ofsaid source for producing a high speed gaseous flow to be obtained byexpansion of said compressed and energized gas; c. an optical resonatingcavity means arranged at the output of said duct means such thAt thegaseous flow passing through said cavity produces a laser beam; d. atleast two electrode means defining an inter-electrode space for thegaseous flow after passing through said cavity, wherein said gas passesthrough said inter-electrode space; e. means for applying a magneticfield to the inter-electrode space; and f. means for focusing, in theinter-electrode space, said laser beam produced in said optical cavity,whereby a high potential is obtained between said electrodes due to theincreased electronic density in said gas caused by the focusing of thelaser beam, and the application of the magnetic field.